Author MacLeod Returns Home

A church in a tiny section of Cape Breton will celebrate the life of an author known around the world. A memorial service is being held today in Broad Cove for Alistair MacLeod. The church is located only a short drive from where the decorated writer grew up and later spent his summers with his family. MacLeod died last Sunday in Windsor, Ontario with his family at his side. He's credited with writing timeless novels such as No Great Mischief and Lost Salt Gift of Blood. MacLeod was 77.

Two Men Charged In Harley Lawrence Death

RCMP in Nova Scotia have charged two men with first degree murder in the death of an Annapolis Valley man. Twenty-six-year-old David Wayne Surette and 25-year-old Kyle David James Fredericks of the Berwick area were arrested and charged in the death of Harley Lawrence. Lawrence was found dead in October after a fire at a bus shelter. Both men have been remanded into custody and will appear in Kentville court on Monday.

Group Looking To Bring 'Awesome' Ideas To South Shore

Are you ready to be awesome? A group of people are willing to pay $1,000 to see just how awesome you can be. Awesome South Shore is offering money to people who have ideas that could bring great events to the local area. Trustee Andrew Button says it could be anything from a lego party to using the money to recreate a scene from a famous movie. He says they want to inspire people.



The group is made up of 30 people. Every month 10 people donate $100 to create a $1,000 grant for an idea. They are collecting ideas on their website and will give out their first $1,000 during a May 28 event at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg. The website where you can submit ideas can be accessed here .

Program Attracting Doctors To South Shore Expanding

Introducing student doctors to rural Nova Scotia in the last year or so of their residency is the focus of the province's rural retention program. It offers encouragement to settle in places like the South Shore where its always a challenge to retain doctors. Premier Stephen McNeil says the program will be continued and expanded.



McNeil says there has been too much focus in the past on Halifax and having many doctors and specialists centred there. He says every effort is now being made to provide incentives to new doctors to settle here on the South Shore and in other rural areas of the province where the need is greatest.

Waldorf School Heading Toward The Finish Line

A South Shore independent school is in the middle of the pack in the hunt for first prize in a major national competition. The Waldorf School in Blockhouse is a candidate for winning the National Trees of Knowledge online competition. Parent Anastasia Malay says winning the $20,000 top prize will allow for an expansion of the school's tools of learning.



The Waldorf School is in sixth place and voting online runs until May 5. You can vote for the school at least once a day until then and stand a chance to win $10,000 for doing so. You can vote here .

Gas Prices Hot Topic In Legislature

Gas prices are up across the board today at South Shore pumps. Regular self serve has increased overnight by more than 2 cents a litre to $1.46.2 and diesel is up by a similar amount to $1.42.7 in many locations. With prices today now having reached record-breaking territory, the issue of double taxing gas has hit the floor of the province's legislature during question period. Opposition PC Leader Jamie Baillie led the attack on the McNeil government.



Some industry watchers predict gas prices will balloon past $1.50 before the start of the summer.

Berwick: Arrests Made In Death Of Homeless Man

There are new developments in the case involving the suspicious death of a homeless man in the Annapolis Valley. Mounties say they have two people in custody in connection with the death of Harley Lawrence. Lawrence died in a bus shelter in Berwick last year. The shelter was set on fire in October. Police say one person was arrested in Berwick around midnight and another was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. in the Sackville area. They are being interviewed by members of the RCMP's Major Crimes Unit.  However, police say no further details are being released.

Extensive Repairs Completed At Lunenburg Academy

The roof and chimney at Lunenburg Academy are now repaired, but not without more funding from the federal government. The town of Lunenburg was given almost $31,775 last summer for the work. However, significant roof rot and more repairs to the chimney were identified. Ottawa has since provided an additional $33,048 in infrastructure funding to complete the work. Mayor Rachel Bailey says she was happy to see the feds step up.



The Castle on the Hill has been a mainstay in Lunenburg since it opened its doors in 1895. It served as a school for 117 years until 2012. The town is looking to re-purpose the building for future use by community members and businesses.

Nova Scotia Looks For More US Visitors

Nova Scotia is looking to an old friend in hopes of boosting tourism. The province launched a ambitious marketing campaign in the Boston area to attract more first time US visitors. The tourism agency is leading the efforts which will focus on TV, newspaper and online ads. CEO Patrick Sullivan says the return of the Yarmouth ferry may also give tourism a boost this summer.



Sullivan says as part of the campaign they have bought room for signage behind home plate at Fenway Park for 10 games beginning April 29. However, he says the ads will really heat up in May.

Lunenburg: Music Academy Close To Accepting First Class

Over 140 musicians from 27 countries have applied to be a part of the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance. The group announced they will accept 14 of them for their Rossini Opera Academy, which opens up in October. Maestro Alberto Zedda will conduct the intense two-week course in Lunenburg. Artistic Director Burt Wathen says a pair of Canadians will be included in the class.


Wathen says the 14 students will be notified in early May about their acceptance into the program. The Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance has also planned a number of outreach concerts in the community between October and December. Wathen says the group has come a long way and are close to realizing a dream.

NS Liberal Government Accused Of Building Two Slush Funds

The McNeil government is taking heat over writing-off debts or giving loans to big companies with Liberal connections. That's something when in opposition, the Liberals criticized the Dexter government about over and over again. Current PC Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie went drilling for answers from Premier Stephen McNeil during question period in the Legislature. He wanted to know why the government is carrying on with big, forgiveable loans.



Premier Stephen McNeil took Baillie up on the challenge.



Baillie alledges the Liberals are padding a couple of slush funds for political rainy days with money supplied by companies loyal to the party. McNeil wrote off Baillie's comments as nonsense!

Governments Accused Of Making Fortune Off High Gas Prices

Gas prices at South Shore pumps are expected to take another jump overnight tonight by at least a couple of cents a litre. Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic director Kevin Lacey says last fall's pre-election political rhetoric about forcing prices down has lost its lustre. He says governments are slow to react now because they're making a fortune in taxes.



Prices are expected to increase tonight at South Shore pumps by at least two cents a litre for regular self serve. That'll push the price past $1.46, the highest in a couple of years. Diesel is also expected to rise by a penny or so tonight.

Gas Prices Rise To Record Levels

A dubious record has been set this morning at South Shore gas pumps!
Prices are blowing already set records out the door. Regular self serve is up about 2.5 cents to $1.46.2 per litre, busting a record of almost a cent less in April 2012. Meanwhile, Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic director Kevin Lacey tells us last fall's pre-election political rhetoric about forcing prices down has lost its lustre. He says governments are slow to react now because ... they're making a fortune in taxes.




Gas prices are about 20 cents more a litre than they were a year ago and diesel is almost 40 cents higher.

Program To Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Introduced In Queens

Youth in Queens County are about to learn better ways of preventing sexual abuse. The Canadian Red Cross introduced its 'Be Safe!' program Wednesday afternoon at Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy in Liverpool. The program gives kids ages five to nine-years-old educational tools to recognize and prevent situations that may lead to sexual abuse. School Board Communications Manager, Trish Smith, says the program engages kids through activities.



'Be Safe!' will also be available at North Queens Community School. Both Queens County schools are the first to offer the program in Nova Scotia. Additional information about the Canadian Red Cross program is available online here .

Bridgewater Youth Shelter In Limbo

The future of a youth shelter in Bridgewater is unclear. Empire House for youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless is transitioning. It has been run by the province since 2007 but the Nova Scotia government is looking for a community organization to take over control. However, it's not known what will become of the current shelter on Empire Street. The home opened in 2002. The new service model will begin in July. Four youth workers will be re-assigned within the department. The province says the program will link youth with health providers, school, housing, employment and other social support.

No Need For Bridgewater Memorial Arena: Deputy Mayor

What started as an outdoor arena in 1948 appears to have at least one more year of service left. Town council has tentatively approved another year of operation for the Bridgewater Memorial Arena. It was a 4-3 vote in favour of providing almost $155,000 to keep the rink open for 2014-15. Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis voted against. He feels arenas in Chester, Lunenburg and Liverpool could fill the void if the rink at the new Lifestyle Centre is booked.



McInnis says the recent Ivany Report calls for more regional services and feels this could be one way to take advantage of it. A final decision is expected to be made on this topic and the town's budget on Monday.

School Closure Still Up To Elected Board

Elected board members will have the final say when deciding whether or not to close schools in Nova Scotia. Education Minister Karen Casey introduced changes in legislation today around school review. Casey says the new process puts an emphasis on better planning and more collaboration when a school is up for review. No schools are currently under review and none can be put forward until the new process is in place. A review committee was established last year to look at the process in depth and come up with a modified system. The new school review process will be in place by September.

For more information:

The recommendations and Casey's click the link Department of Education.

Funding Boost For Family Resource Centres

Family resources centres in Nova Scotia are getting a boost. The provincial government is increasing its annual funding to the centres by two million dollars. The money will be spread out equally throughout the province's 26 facilities. It will mean roughly $75,000 more in funding. New money will also be made available for training. Local family resources centres are located in New Ross, Bridgewater and Yarmouth. They offer support and programs for parents, children and families before and after birth - normally up to age six.

"Government Supporting New Grads" - Samson

The Liberal government is firing back at both of Nova Scotia's opposition parties over the availability of jobs for graduating university students. The Tories and NDP are accusing the government of coming up short when it comes to incentives for new graduates to stay and work in the province. Economic Development Minister Michel Samson told the Legislature during question period, they're trying to set up an economically-friendly working environment in the province.



New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan offer thousands of dollars in rebates to students who stay and work in those provinces following graduation. Samson says nothing like that is being considered for here.

Any Oak Island Treasure & Artifacts Need Protecting Says MLA

Protecting Oak Island from being plundered and historic artifacts spirited out of the area for international sale is the focus of a bill being introduced in the Nova Scotia Legislature. Chester-St. Margarets NDP MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse is leading the charge in the house, drawing attention to the consequences if fellow members, opposition and government, don't guarantee its passage.



A reality show on the History Channel has renewed interest in the tiny Mahone Bay island, with many viewers indicating their wish to pay a visit. The latest intriguing theory claims not only Captain Kidd's treasure may have been buried on Oak Island centuries ago. There may also be significant religious artifacts connected to the Knights Templar and even Shakespeare.